The Green Path to Fintech Innovation: How Corporate Environmental Commitment and
CEO
Social Capital Shape the Future
Mushahid Hussain Baig, Obaid Gulzar, Jalal Khan, Jin Xu ABSTRACT
In light of the expanding body of literature examining the interplay between corporate environmental behaviour and technological innovation, this study explores the relationship between corporate environmental commitment ( CECO ) and fintech innovation ( FINO ), focusing on the moderating role of CEO social capital ( CEO‐COM ). Using a sample of 1049 A‐share listed firms in China over the period of 2014–2022, this study addresses endogeneity concerns and ensures robustness. The findings show that firms with stronger CECO are more likely to adopt fintech solutions to improve transparency, fulfill regulatory responsibilities, and address shareholder expectations. The results also show that CEO‐COM significantly moderates this relationship by enabling access to resources and aligning organisational goals and objectives. Disaggregated results by ownership type indicate that the impact of CECO on FINO is more pronounced in state‐owned firms, likely due to their alignment with government policies. These findings offer valuable insights for managers and policymakers to promote sustainability‐driven innovation through technology.